Chapter 398

On the imperial watchtower, Zhang Jian raised his hand, curled his fingers, and calculated. In his vast primordial spirit and divine awareness, he felt only a vast shadow instantly shroud the earth, plunging heaven and earth into darkness.

"Toad devouring the moon—great calamity under heaven. In the deep wilds of the north, demonic qi runs rampant. Surely a peerless great demon has been born!"

Zhang Jian thought to himself.

Regarding intelligence-gathering ability, the Great Xia Dynasty still falls short of these great sects of the Tongshan Dao Tong.

He thought for a moment, then immediately sent a message to Tongshan.

Although the Great Xia Dynasty has expanded greatly these past ten or so years, compared to the Tongshan Dao Tong, it is merely a petty witch before a great witch.

In ten years, the Tongshan Dao Tong has already devoured the three hundred prefectures surrounding Shen Mountain.

This territory now approaches one-tenth of the Two Realms region.

One-tenth of the Two Realms region—this is an exaggerated figure.

Though there are many major sects in the Two Realms region, few can sweep across so much territory in such a short time.

And it is not over yet.

The Tongshan Dao Tong continues expanding deeper into the Two Realms region, appearing intent on swallowing Dongxuan Shenzhou whole.

It seems to be preparing for some great undertaking.

Zhang Jian had also overheard some fellow disciples chatting, and even some sect elders were speculating.

The Tongshan Dao Tong has expanded like this before in history, but each expansion had its own purpose—whether to forge treasures and quell disasters, or for the calamity of Shenzhou, or to prepare for the sect's founding ancestor to ascend to the celestial gates.

Zhang Jian's thoughts raced—Huangting Palace was already before him.

Huangting Palace is his sleeping palace.

At this moment, he stepped into the void step by step, his form seeming to merge with the void itself. A subtle, elusive Dao resonance flowed around him, as if he could at any moment merge with the omnipresent heavenly dao law between heaven and earth—divine light, profound and wondrous.

……

Tongshan

At the Virtue Palace, the Wandering Daoist stood deep within Qingyuan Peak, and he too saw the vast omen in the depths of the firmament.

Gazing toward the deep wilds, he knew only something capable of triggering such a heavenly omen could be a peerless demon awakening from within.

His expression grew solemn. At this time of the Tongshan Dao Tong's manifestation in the world, he feared he could not avoid dealings with such demons.

At the same time, a thought flashed through his mind.

"In half a month, it will be the time the Sunset Cave Heaven opens. I do not know if that demon comes for this matter—but if so, the trouble will not be small!"

After brief contemplation, the Wandering Daoist decided to strike the bell in the Virtue Palace, summoning the elders of all lineages to deliberate together.

……

Huangting Palace

Within this sleeping palace, it now seemed like the heart of the earth, from which a vast power emanated—mysterious and unfathomable. It transformed into a strange page of scripture, black and white light shimmering indistinctly, merging with a special heavenly dao law deep in the dark void, revealing a profound truth: the reversal of life and death, an immortal cycle of rebirth.

This is the Nine Nether Corpse-Shedding True Method.

Having cultivated to this degree, Zhang Jian has already elevated it to the Unity of Dao level. At this moment, this primordial spirit immortal method seems bound to the great dao of life and death.

On this page, one to three names may be inscribed. Even if these individuals have their souls scattered and spirits dispersed in battle, through this Unity-of-Dao-level primordial spirit immortal method, life and death can be reversed, and their primordial spirits can be reassembled.

A most marvelous primordial spirit immortal method.

Moreover, this is not yet its limit.

Its essence is a true immortal dao method.

A true immortal-level primordial spirit immortal method!

"Only a pity—though strong, it helps me only so much in mastering the heavenly dao of the netherworld side!"

Before the screen, Zhang Jian slowly opened his eyes, his gaze holding a hint of contemplation.

Behind him, black and white light flowed, and the Nine Nether Jade Book instantly turned into a stream of light that entered his primordial spirit's sea of awareness, forming several diagrams composed of pure innate talismans.

In fact, Zhang Jian had also considered creating a primordial spirit immortal method for the netherworld side as his primary cultivation method.

But after careful consideration, he felt the cost-effectiveness was not high.

At his current cultivation level, creating a primordial spirit-level immortal method is not difficult, but to create a true immortal-level primordial spirit immortal method? The difficulty is immense, requiring tremendous mental effort!

This differs from ordinary soul-level methods, primordial spirit-level methods.

When the dao method reaches true immortal level, the difficulty of deduction undergoes a qualitative change.

This involves many high-difficulty computational methods.

Zhang Jian has not yet managed to summarize a few formulas suitable for true immortal-level primordial spirit immortal methods.

This requires a period of adjustment.

Rather than that, it is better to first seek out mature primordial spirit immortal methods.

Mature primordial spirit immortal methods may possess greater power.

Just then, Zhang Jian's expression stirred—he gazed into the depths of the void and saw an invisible stream of light tear through space, only to be blocked outside the Nine Tripod Boundary.

Raising his hand, he casually plucked a jade slip from the void.

It was the Tongshan Dao Tong's message jade slip.

"Moon-Cleansing Ritual?"

Zhang Jian merely glanced over it, and his expression shifted instantly.

This message was sent by the Slaughter Demon True Lord—the sect's Moon-Cleansing trial is about to begin, and the Slaughter Demon True Lord asks if he is interested in participating.

Besides this, the message jade slip also contains specific information about the Moon-Cleansing Ritual.

Within Tongshan, there are various secret realms and all kinds of trials.

There are places suitable for Qi-refining disciples, as well as for testing destiny and foundation establishment, or for condensing golden cores, or even for Yin God venerables to cultivate—but there are also a few places that only allow true primordial spirit persons to enter.

For example, the Sunset Cave Heaven.

This is an ancient blessed cave-temple, ancient in origin. Legend says it is the ruins of a super-grade great sect from the Middle Ages.

It is located in the Void Dharma Realm, near the area of the Taiyin Star.

This place is close to the outer void, space is unstable, extremely dangerous.

What is most peculiar is that this Xiyue Cave Heaven is active, and only once every six hundred and seventy-five years does it have a stable period of half an hour; at that time, the space storms around it subside, allowing other cultivators to enter.

"Ancient Dao lineage..."

Zhang Jian secretly mused in his heart, for such ancient relics, he naturally was interested.

The previous trip to the Beichen Pass ruins left him a deep impression.

After thinking, Zhang Jian immediately went into seclusion.

He left behind a Tai Xu phantom body, then summoned the Heaven and Earth Talisman with his mana, condensed a Heaven and Earth Mystic Gate, and his form entered it, rushing straight toward Tong Mountain.

……

Tong Mountain, Slay Demon Peak

After Zhang Jian entered the Slay Demon Hall, he saw the Slay Demon True Lord.

Upon seeing Zhang Jian enter the Slay Demon Hall, the Slay Demon True Lord had some surprise in his eyes; after learning Zhang Jian's purpose, he called him to come to the inner hall.

He also teased: "Ah Yu, this time it seems you have changed your ways; I thought with your nature, you would not take part in such an adventure?!"

The Slay Demon True Lord spoke with some teasing.

These years, the sect's Dao lineage has had many grand events, not lacking trials, various opportunities to explore ruins; she also once wanted Zhang Jian to train appropriately, but Zhang Jian each time used not wanting adventure or insufficient cultivation as an excuse to 'avoid it'; today is the first time he came proactively.

Zhang Jian complained bitterly: "Master, times have changed; back then, one disciple eating his fill meant the whole family was not hungry, but now I too have achieved some success in my endeavors, yet behind me follows a large group of people; those people eat horses and chew, if no solution is found, it is easy to exhaust the mountain's resources!"

In the inner hall, the Slay Demon True Lord glanced at Zhang Jian and coldly laughed.

"Wicked disciple, perhaps you feel your cultivation has matured and think you have grasped it!"

Zhang Jian, hearing this, was speechless for a moment, then said.

"Master has misunderstood me too deeply!"

The Slay Demon True Lord snorted: "As master, I will not misunderstand you; your temperament, I also understand clearly; you will not lightly undertake anything without absolute certainty!"

Zhang Jian was dumbfounded.

The Slay Demon True Lord truly understands him; this to some extent matches his thoughts.

With the 'Golden Thigh' in the ancestral shrine, his attitude naturally leans toward conservatism.

He has not fought in a 'high-end match' for a long time!

After a slight pause, the Slay Demon True Lord again said: "However, your idea is not wrong; we cultivators are not those heretical demons and external paths; we can be extreme, but must have our own certainty; only by living do we have hope!"

She softly sighed: "In the cultivation world, there is an ancient saying: the longer one lives, the higher one's cultivation usually is; although not absolute, it does have some truth!"

Zhang Jian, hearing this, laughed: "Master is wise!"

The Slay Demon True Lord, hearing this, glanced again at Zhang Jian and spoke in a deep voice.

"With your cultivation entering the Xiyue Cave Heaven, self-preservation should be no worry, but you still need to be more cautious; back when the Xiyue Sword Sect was at its peak, it was not inferior to our Tong Mountain Dao lineage in many ways, and possibly even had more Nascent Soul experts; yet the result was the death of all sect disciples; there may be a great secret inside, so you must be careful!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's expression became slightly solemn.

The strength of the Tong Mountain Dao lineage is clear to him; not to mention these three ancestral masters, even those two ancestral masters are not something ordinary immortals can directly behold.

"Could it be that they offended some Dao Lord, being directly wiped out, erasing the entire sect's Dao lineage?"

Zhang Jian secretly thought!

But then the Slay Demon True Lord said again.

"However, although dangerous inside, treasures are indeed not few; your Wuliang Shibo, Fen Gu Shibo, Qing Yun Shibo, including myself and your Jue Ming Shibo have all entered the Xiyue Cave Heaven; especially your Jue Ming Shibo, who obtained a great benefit from within, enabling him to ascend to the celestial throne as an earth immortal, largely due to that treasure; otherwise, even if he cultivated for tens of thousands of years more, he might not attain the earth immortal body!"

Saying this, the Slay Demon True Lord's eyes also showed some envy.

For Jue Ming Daoist's fortune, other True Lords in the sect are all envious!

Zhang Jian, upon hearing this, had his eyes light up.

A treasure that lets a true immortal save tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation in the mundane world—its value is certainly not ordinary.

The Slay Demon True Lord again said: "Several sect-protecting treasures of the Xiyue Sword Sect should also still be in the ruins; with your abilities, perhaps you can enter the core area to explore a bit!"

Zhang Jian continued to listen attentively; the Slay Demon True Lord clearly intended to give him guidance.

"……However, the coordinates of the Xiyue Cave Heaven are not only held by our Tong Mountain Dao lineage, but also by many major sects, even demon clans and high-level cultivators of the demon sect; when the cave heaven stabilizes, many high-level cultivators will certainly enter; you must still be careful, for under heaven there are countless extraordinary people, and not lacking those who wield strange arts; one careless move and you will suffer greatly!"

Zhang Jian nodded, he kept the Slay Demon True Lord's various warnings in mind, but after thinking, he again mentioned the news of the Netherworld Divine Immortal Law from one side.

Upon hearing this, the Slay Demon True Lord directly shook his head.

"True Immortal-level Netherworld Immortal Law requires you to figure it out yourself; after you return from the Xiyue Cave Heaven, you can go to the Sea Mountain Tower, Gather Treasure Tower, and Sky's End Pavilion to purchase! As long as you have spirit stones, it should pose no obstacle!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded.

He did not feel much disappointment in his heart.

Zhang Jian then waited inside Tong Mountain for several days.

This time, the Tong Mountain Dao lineage sent few disciples to enter the Xiyue Cave Heaven—only six.

The day the cave heaven opened.

Dawn light faint, warm sunlight pierced through the mist at the peak, scattering sparsely before the hall.

The air was filled with a damp smell, plus a strong fragrance of grass and trees.

The six gathered early before the Ancestral Hall of Qingyuan Peak; here, the Fen Gu True Lord in a red robe was already waiting.

His gaze swept over the crowd, especially when it fell on Zhang Jian, a hint of a smile appeared in his expression.

"Fellow martial sisters and nephews, please follow me; this time, this poor Daoist will open a spatial passage for you!"